SONG, STAGE, AND STORY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 148, 25 June 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

SONG, STAGE, AND STORY.

Cowan's Dramatic Company inaugurated their New Zealand tour at the Dunedin Princess' on the llth inst. There was a large audience to witness the opening production, 'The Battle of Life.' Another company which commenced a tour of the colony at Dunedin last week was the Ada Juneen Burlesque Company. • The Knight-Ferrar Company are appearing in 'A Royal Divorce' at Her Majesty's, Sydney. 'Straight from the Heart,' by the Bland Holt Company, is drawing crowded houses at the Royal. Miss Peggie Pryde and Mr John Coleman are the chief attraction at the Tivoli. 'The French Maid' will replace 'A Royal Divorce' at the conclusion of the season, a fortnight hence. Fitzgerald Brothers' circus opened at Cooktown (Q.) on June llth, to a £370 house. Williamson and Musgrove's neAv Royal Comic Opera Company is having a good season at Perth (W.A.). From there the company visits Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie, and then proceeds to Adelaide. Mrs Brown-Potter and Kyrle Bellew have accepted a new romantic play by Mrs T. P. O'Connor, wife of a well-known London journalist, and intend to produce it shortly at Liverpool.

Mr Musgrove is sending out the costumes and appointments 'for 'La Poupee,' and also a lady to play the part (says the Sydney 'Referee'). The opera will, be produced for the first time in Australia during the Opera Company's season in Sydney. Mr Williamson is also negotiating Avith Mr Wilson Barrett for 'The Christian,' which' has been dramatised by Mr Hall Came from his own sensational novel. The work, of course, requires revision ancl preparation for the stage, and this Mr Barrett is doing prior to producing it himself in London. Should he finish his work on it in time, it may be produced in Australia, for the first time on any stage, at the Princess.

It is not often theatre-goers give way to excessiA'e emotion, but a case occurred lately at Adelaide, Avhich (writes 'Bis') was of a decidedly g-enu-ine character. 'A Royal DiA^orce' Avas the play, and the scene had been reached in Avhich Miss Ferrar as Josephine implores the British Admiral for permission to accompany I\apoleon in his banishment. The situation so worked tipon the feelings of one young lady in the stalls that, rising from her seat, she clasped her bends in entreaty and, Avith, tears streaming down her cheeks, exclaimed, 'Oh, do let her go!' Then realising Avhere she AA-as, she sank back into her seat covered Avith confusion.

The action of the authorities at the curiously-named Kildorrery. in the County of Cork, supplies a tremendous Avarning for amateur actors (remarks the London 'Referee ). It is almost as remarkable and as funny as the action of certain other folks made famous in a song called 'Killaloe.' It appears, from the reports to hand, that certain young gentlemen, Avho Avere anxious in the first place to shine as histrions, and in the second to celebrate the centenary of the trouble of '08, gave a representation of 'Robert Emmett,' and Avere so pleased with their appearance in stage clothes that they desired to be photographed, and on the folloAAing day sallied forth in order that the desire might be gratified, and preparations made for passing their pictures on to posterity. Unfortunately for their project, they Avere interfered AA'ith by the local police, avlio seized the SAvords carried by some of the amateurs, talked of prosecution for possession of arms without a license, and threatened further proceedings against those of the party AA'ho had put on military uniforms. And that's how they encourage the drama in Kildorrery.